Hooke, William

Hooke, William A Congregational minister, was born in Southampton in 1601, and educated at Trinity College, Oxford. After having received orders in the Church of England, he became vicar of Axmouth, in Devonshire. About 1636 he emigrated to this country, as his nonconforming views had caused him considerable trouble, and in 1644 or 1645 he was installed pastor at New Haven, Conn. He was by marriage a cousin of Oliver Cromwell, after whose ascendency he returned to England, and became Cromwell's domestic chaplain. After the death of Cromwell, Hooke became an ejected and silenced minister, and he spent his remaining days in retirement. He died near London March 21, 1678. Besides several sermons among them, New England's Tears for Old England's Fears, a Fast sermon (Tauntoli, 1640, London, 1641, 4to), which is considered one of the best productions of his day he published The Privileges of the Saints on Earth beyond those in Heaven, etc., containing also a Discourse on the Gospel Day (1673). Sprague, Ann. Am. Pulpit, 1, 104 sq.; Allibone, Dict. of Authors, 1, 878.